A new feature here on the weblog as we pin down the organisers of the upcoming events we’re excited about and get them to tell us all about it.

First up the Gringo 10 year anniversary party. I’ve known Matt a looong time now since the very first issue of Damn You! zine and loved all the early Gringo bands – Hirameka Hi-Fi, Reynolds, Empire-Builder…I’m already blubbing with nostalgia. Gringo was even the first website we hosted here at diskant. Ten years later and they’re still releasing awesome records from the likes of Lords, The Unit Ama, Polaris and Souvaris and are planning a big old party in Nottingham to celebrate ten years of greatness. I hassled Matt to answer some questions.

Can you tell us a little about how Gringo started and what your reasons were?

Youthful enthusiasm for the IPU led five friends (Viva Joe, Jimi, Tom and Jason!) to blow their first pay packets on a slab of black vinyl put inside a badly photocopied paper sleeve. The mission: to put North East Essex on the musical map.

What have you got planned for the day?

LOVE

Also, 11 Gringo recording artists past and present. Tears at seeing old faces and missing good people who could not attend. Chris Summerlin projecting my face on to a large white screen. Me pulling down Chris Summerlin’s trousers. A Gringo DJ set which may include cuts from Mr T, Dennis Waterman and Reel 2 Real feat. The Mad Stuntman. No doubt there will be a lot of mess to clean up.

What have been the highlights and lowlights of the 10 years of Gringo?

The highs: every release; the first Gringo website; anything to do with John Peel (his reading of my first fax, the playing of the first Gringo release, the playing of Empire-Builder at the wrong speed and his reading of my fax pointing this out, the first Gringo Peel session, the 10minutemen live sessions); Hirameka supporting Mogwai back in the day; Meeting glorious people; Getting to watch Gringo bands play in different countries; starting to break even!

The lows: Southern Records; falling out with people over stupid shit because we were all too young to know better

What’s happening next with Gringo?

Souvaris album out now. Sailors 7″ out soon. Second albums from Bilge Pump, Lords, Soeza and Eska sometime this year. The Unit Ama should record again soon, if they are reading this. I would like to put out a record by The Horse Loom. I will continue to stalk The James Orr Complex until he submits.

Anything else you want to tell us?

You can buy tickets from me. Or Selectadisc in Nottingham. Or online. Lots of people are travelling and I’ll do my best to find you a place to stay! Please someone drive from Glasgow so that Marceline and Colin Kearney can attend. [yes, do! – M]

Find out more at www.gringorecords.com

Posted: 05|30|07 at 8:13 pm. Filed under: events.
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